50

SIN

"Well, I guess we should…"

Laurent trailed off as the door to the hall creaked open. Artemisia stepped inside and she halted in the middle, glancing at everyone before proceeding to my side.

She had been doing this lately. Since I told her about the supernatural world, she wanted to know everything that was going on.

Hence her frequent visit to the meeting hall.

Even though I left some information out for her good, she often tried her best to get to the root of it.

"Proceed," I mumbled, glaring at Laurent as he continued staring at her.

Laurent smirked, shrugging. "Well, since the attack seemed to be against the Packs, I believe we need to know what exactly is causing it. We can't just rush into a battle without knowing the cause."

First time hearing Laurent being reasonable and thinking of everyone other than himself.

Normally, he would prefer we charge and annihilate every opposing force. Now, it was otherwise.

I gaze at him for a few more seconds before shaking my head. There was nothing different about him, he was still the idiot he was.

However, it seemed like he had matured a bit.

"Stop acting surprised, I'm not as stupid as you think." He mumbled.

I rolled my eyes. Then I shifted my gaze around, gazing at each person present.

Most people had gone to sit on the sofas which were not far from where the round table was, whilst the others were standing.

We were a Pack of more than twenty people, sitting around the table had never been an issue since it was huge. Also, it was mostly for the Alpha, Beta, Delta, Sentinel, Gamma, Eta and Theta to strategize whilst the rest looked after the children. The aforementioned list were the people involved mostly in combat. But since the arrival of Nico and some of his pack members, there was barely enough space.

Even Artemisia, I had given up my chair for her to sit on.

"As good as the suggestion sounds, you know the reputation of Lycan park and how deadly they are, we can't go unprepared." Diane, an Eta, spoke up.

"Of course, we didn't intend to go do something as rash as that or do you?" Laurent asked, staring at me.

A smirk formed on his face and I noticed his eyes had strayed to Artemisia.

What was wrong with him?

I wonder why he kept staring at her constantly. Artemisia didn't seem to mind. I doubt if she noticed as her gaze was on the map.

Maybe I was the weird one watching everything he was doing. Nevertheless, in as much as I wanted to tell him to stop ogling her, we had important issues at hand.

"No," I said, shaking my head. Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose, then stared around the large room once more.

It was just like every other meeting we often had- to talk about what was going on in the environment, hunting as well as training. Still, this seemed a bit different. There was a noticeable tension in the air.

The tension that whoever was killing pack members had created.

"I don't think we need more preparation, I mean we prepare daily for a moment like this right?" Lewis, an Omega queried then continued. "We'll only be stalling which would be far more dangerous."

"Thank goodness I'm not the alpha, I'll restrain a lot of you weakling from speaking," Laurent grunted, making Lewis shrug.

"Thank goodness you are not." Diane retorted.

Laurent gritted his teeth, rose to his feet and stalked towards where Diane was. But, I stopped him before he could do anything.

A fight between Diane and Laurent might not end well. Both were overly strong and skilled. It was hard to tell who was going to come out victorious.

Besides, I understood Laurent was used to getting his way all the time. When he was acting in my place as an Alpha, I heard he had punished a lot of the Omegas and left them out in what was going on.

Even though they were the weakest members in the werewolf rank, they were still very much part of us and leaving them out wouldn't make any sense to me.

I believe there would be a time their power would come in handy.

It wasn't like they had any power of some sort, except those that had different supernatural beings as parents and had gained a skill or two from them. In the healers, there were some Omegas.

Also, some could combat. So, if any combating member were incapacitated, they often help out.

"I believe he's right."

I turned to Artemisia as she spoke up for the first time since she entered the room. Her almond-shaped eyes widened, she bit her lips when she noticed everyone was watching her.

A blush that usually surfaces on her face every now and then, that I found adorable, adorned her pale skin.

"Well Queenie, what do you know about battles, I mean you are just a mere human?"

I scowled at Laurent at his statement but Artemisia didn't look as if she was offended.

"I might be a human, but I'm very good at making strategies." She replied with a smile.

"You have some skilled spies that if caught wouldn't die easily even if they were beaten, why not send them out to bring some info rather than waiting to be trained or waiting for the information to come to you?"

I gazed at Artemisia in awe whilst watching as she talked to the crowd. So, she was not just a pretty face like she had been dubbed, she was freaking smart.

Who knew she would one day be making plans for a maybe impending war? No one, not even I!

Everyone nodded as soon as she finished speaking. They seemed to be hypnotized by whatever she had said.

"So," Laurent cleared his throat. "That is a brilliant idea."

"Except, it's reckless." He added.

"It's not bro," Nico said, grinning from ear to ear. "I never knew you were this brilliant. I always thought red hair was meant to be a ditz but you have changed my perspective and won my heart as well."

The meeting went on for another minute. Eventually, it ended with Artemisia's suggestion in mind.

★★★

"Careful," I grunted. "I wouldn't joke around with my heart if I were you." I sidled to Nico, who was now conversing with an Omega.

Nico dismissed her before letting out a loud chuckle. I believe he knew what I was saying. It wasn't the first time I would make a joke like that as he always said women he found smart won his heart all the time.

I grimaced as Artemisia nudged me. "Are you planning to pull his heart out? He was only joking."

I shrugged, then chuckled at the appalled look on her face.

"Never worry, Darling," Nico said. "It's an in-joke we share. He'll never harm his one and only friend."

"Never say never," I mumbled.

Artemisia glared at me, nudging me again. "You are impossible."

"See ya." Nico winked, stepping out of the door leading to the entrance.

I gripped Artemisia who was about to follow him out, tugging her into the room used as an infirmary. Luckily, it was empty and I guessed everyone had deserted the hall.

"Sin!" She gasped, shoving me as I gripped her backside. "Someone might catch us!"

"You are so tempting." I husked.

I tugged her into me, inhaling her scent.

My mouth landed on hers before she could protest further, and I clenched her hands to stop her from punching me.

The protest and struggle died down and she relaxed into my touch, kissing back.

I grinned into the kiss. I had wanted to do that since we were in the hall. I wondered how I was able to control myself since I couldn't do so whenever she was near.

I guess it was due to the presence of everyone that stopped me from ripping her dress, setting her on the round table whilst thrusting into her wetness.

"Sin." Artemisia moaned. "I want you."

Her turquoise eyes flashed with desire and her hands fumbled whilst trying to undo the buttons on my shirt.

I helped her with it, then gathered her into my hand.

Placing her gently next to the door, I hoisted her so she could wrap her legs around me. I guided my shaft towards her wetness without further ado and rammed into her.

We both groaned as pleasure upon pleasure kept building inside of us. I did a few more thrusts, she clenched around me and came whilst screaming out my name.

Her voice was so melodious as it made me come undone as well.